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King Tut paternity

In this week’s installment of Medical Discovery News, UTMB’s Norbert Herzog and David Niesel discuss King Tut, an Egyptian pharaoh who died at the age of 19 approximately 3,300 years ago. “Much to scientists’ surprise, the embalming method used in mummification also protected his DNA, allowing them to analyze not only how King Tut died but who his parents were. Scientists took DNA samples not only from King Tut’s bones but also from 10 other royal mummies. Only three of the mummies’ identities were already known. Using the Y male chromosome, which is passed from father to son, they constructed a five generation family tree.” MDN airs locally at 10 a.m. Saturday on KUHF.